LIST: Wives, brothers, children of killed officials run in 2019

Rambo Talabong

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

LIST: Wives, brothers, children of killed officials run in 2019
(UPDATED) 6 widows, 2 sons, 2 brothers, and a daughter of slain officials are running in the 2019 elections despite possible danger

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – When the political patriarch is shot down, sometimes another member of the family has to step up even if he or she faces the same danger.

This is the case for at least 10 cities and towns in the Philippines for the 2019 May elections after at least 7 vice mayors and 12 mayors were slain even before President Rodrigo Duterte reached his midterm.

The candidates consist of 6 widows, two brothers, two sons, and a daughter who are running for mayoral posts, a vice mayoral post, and a congressional seat. A couple of the widows are running against the suspects in the killings of their husbands.

ENDORSEMENT. President Rodrigo Duterte raises the hand of Gertie Batocabe, wife of slain AKO Bicol Rep Rodel Batocabe. Photo courtesy of Gertie Duran-Batocabe

1. Gertie Batocabe – Mayoral candidate of Daraga, Albay

Gertrudes or “Gertie” Batocabe is running for the top post of Daraga, Albay after her husband AKO Bicol Representative Rodel Batocabe was shot down two days before Christmas in 2018.

She is running under the National Unity Party, competing against the incumbent mayor and suspected mastermind of the killing of her husband, Carlwyn Baldo.

2. Gemma Lubigan – Mayoral candidate of Trece Martires, Cavite

Gemma Lubigan is the wife of slain Trece Martires Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan. Her husband was killed on July 7, 2018, after announcing that he wanted to run for mayor. In fulfilling this dream for her husband, Gemma Lubigan is running with the Nacionalista Party.

Lubigan, meanwhile, is facing off against Melencio de Sagun, the father of Melandres de Sagun, who was believed to be the mastermind in the killing of her husband.

3. Anida Dimaukom – Mayoral candidate of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao

Vice Mayor Anida Dimaukom is the wife of killed Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom. Dimaukom was killed in an alleged shootout with state operatives on October 28, 2016, in North Cotabato.

After her husband was killed, Anida Dimaukom assumed the post of mayor. She is now running for the post with the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party.

4. Isabel Hidalgo – Mayoral candidate of Balete, Batangas

Isabel Hidalgo is running independently for the mayoralty of Balete, Batangas after her husband Mayor Leovino Hidalgo was gunned down by unidentified men on June 10, 2017, during a local sports event.

'UNFINISHED BUSINESS'. Angeiline Halili runs for mayor of Tanuan, Batangas, to follow in the footsteps of her father, Mayor Antonio Halili, who was killed on JUly 2, 2018.

5. Mary Angeline Halili – Mayoral candidate of Tanauan, Batangas

Mary Angeline or “Sweet” Halili is aiming for the post that her father left behind: the mayoralty of Tanauan, Batangas. Her father was Antonio Halili, who was killed on July 2, 2018, during a weekly flag-raising ceremony in front of city hall.

“Daddy has a lot ot unfinished business, and at the same time I can’t turn my back on the people,” she said when she filed her certificate of candidacy, running with the United Nationalist Alliance party.

6. Mayvelyn Bote – Mayoral candidate of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija

Mayvelyn Bote is the wife of slain General Tinio Mayor Ferdinand Bote, who was shot at repeatedly by motorcycle-riding gunmen on July 3, 2018, while leaving the National Irrigation Administration office in Cabanatuan City.

“I was not really interested in entering politics, because I was saddened by what happened to my husband. But I was convinved by many residents to continue the programs and projects initiated by my husband,” she was quoted by the Manila Bulletin as saying.

7. Wendy Buquing – Mayoral candidate of Sudipen, La Union

Vice Mayor Wendy Buquing is running for the mayoral post of Sudipen, La Union after her husband Mayor Alexander Buquing was killed trying to shield her from bullets during an ambush on October 1, 2018.

In her bid to replace her husband, Buquing is running with ruling party PDP-Laban.

NO FEAR. Terence Blanco (left) runs for mayor despite threats to his life. Photo from Ann Marie Blanco

8. Alshid Mohammad Ali – Mayoral candidate of Sapa-Sapa, Tawi Tawi

Alshid Mohammad Ali seeks to run for the top post of Sapa-Sapa in Tawi Tawi after his brother, then- vice mayor Al Rashid Mohammad Ali, was gunned down on July 11, 2018, by riding-in-tandem suspects while on board his vehicle in Zamboanga City.

Police believe that Al Rashid was gunned down because political enemies did not want him to succeed the family patriarch, incumbent Sapa-Sapa Mayor Alsaggab Mohammad Ali. Alshid is now running in place of his killed brother under the ruling party PDP-Laban.

9. Terence Blanco – Mayoral candidate of Ronda, Cebu

Terence Blanco is the brother of slain Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco III, who was shot dead inside his own office at their town hall in the evening of September 5, 2018. Mariano Blanco III was linked by the Duterte administration to illegal drugs.

This does not appear to faze his brother Terence, who is running in his place, under the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

10. Winsell Beltran-Cordora – Congressional candidate of Quezon City

Winsell Beltran-Cordora is the son of slain Barangay Bagong Silangan Chairman Crisell Beltran, who was ambushed while inside her own vehicle by motorcycle-riding gunmen on January 30, 2019.

She was supposed to run for Quezon City’s 2nd District congressional seat. Now it’s her son Winsell, who is running to win under PDP-Laban.

11. Ricci Reluya – Vice mayoral candidate of San Fernando, Cebu

Ricardo “Ricci” Reluya Jr is running for vice mayor after he lost his father, vice mayor aspirant Councilor Ricardo Reluya, in an ambush on January 22, 2019. His mother, Mayor Lakambini Reluya, was also ambushed but she survived the attack. 

Now Ricci is running with his mother under the Nacionalista Party as they also call for justice for Ricardo’s death. – Rappler.com

Follow Rappler’s full coverage of the 2019 Philippine elections here.

Bookmark this Rappler page for real-time election results.
It will go live as soon as precincts close at 6 pm Monday, May 13.

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Clothing, Apparel, Person

author

Rambo Talabong

Rambo Talabong covers the House of Representatives and local governments for Rappler. Prior to this, he covered security and crime. He was named Jaime V. Ongpin Fellow in 2019 for his reporting on President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. In 2021, he was selected as a journalism fellow by the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics.